Reviews

The Ben Nevis Distillery has long been a hot tip among connoisseurs when it comes to Highland whiskies with a strong character. With the Ben Nevis 10 years 2014/2024, independent bottler James Eadie presents us with a real sherry bomb - at 58.9% ABV. A whisky that not only impresses with its strength, but also offers subtle nuances. Will it deliver what the key figures promise?

For whisky lovers looking for an easily accessible yet exciting bottling, the Teaninich 11 Years Malaga Cask Finish from James Eadie offers a successful overall package. This Highland whisky is a harmonious combination of fruity and creamy notes, which are given an exciting twist by the special finish in Malaga casks.

St. George’s Distillery in Norfolk demonstrates the potential of English whisky with Infinity Cask Batch 3. This distillery-exclusive, single cask whisky is unique, non age stated, and bottled at 48.7% ABV. Its philosophy of continuously topping up the cask with whisky from different cask types promises a layered and intriguing tasting experience.

You don't see Dailuaine bottlings that often. So we are all the more delighted to once again have a dram from this distillery in our glass. The single malt matured for around 10 years in a bourbon hogshead was bottled, as always unfiltered and uncoloured, in 2022 by Malts of Scotland as a Corona Edition.

With the Elsburn The Journey 2020, the Hammerschmiede distillery in Germany has launched an interesting and unique bottling on the market. This single malt has no age statement and is bottled with an alcohol content of 43% vol. But how does this whisky perform in terms of flavour, aroma and drinking pleasure?

The Ardmore 2008 from Signatory Vintage is a Highland whisky which, with its 13 years of maturation, impressively demonstrates how complex and exciting the smoky whiskies from the Ardmore distillery can be.

The Glenfiddich Reserve Cask is another whisky from the famous Speyside distillery that fits perfectly into the line of Glenfiddich's Cask Collection. With 40 % vol. and no age statement, this single malt is clearly aimed at the masses. It is a whisky that was made for many occasions, but can it also score points with more discerning connoisseurs? A look at the details shows that this whisky is one thing above all: accessible.

When a whisky spends almost three decades in a cask, the anticipation builds up almost as intensely as the flavours in the wood. The Glenturret 29 Years 1987/2017, bottled by Cadenhead's, comes along quietly at 42.1 % vol. - but what is hidden behind this inconspicuous facade?

The Glenfiddich Select Cask brings with it exciting promises: an exclusive maturation in European, Bourbon and red wine casks. This cask selection is intended to give the whisky a rich, versatile range of flavours and is part of the Glenfiddich Cask Collection. With its 40 % vol. and the typical charm of a Speyside whisky, it is aimed primarily at beginners and lovers of soft, accessible whiskies. But does the Select Cask live up to its promise?

The Betz distillery from Germany is known for its creative experiments - and the Jamaica Rum Cask Batch 1 is definitely one of them. With an ABV of 51.00 %, this whisky with an age statement of 5 years is a strong calibre that whets the appetite for Caribbean flavours right from the name. But does the whisky deliver what the rum cask promises? Well, let's put it this way: it's unforgettable. Unfortunately.

When a whisky comes from the Speyside region and has an impressive 60.1% vol., the expectations are clear: intensity, complexity and a touch of adventure. This is exactly what the Alistair Walker Whisky Company delivers with its bottling of Allt-a-Bhainne 2005 from the ‘Infrequent Flyers’ series. But how does this 17-years drop really perform in the glass?

If whisky bottles could talk, the Royal Brackla 10 years from James Eadie would probably whisper in a charming Highland accent: ‘Try me, you won't regret it!’.